Hackman and Oldman’s Job Characteristic Model

Hackman and Oldman’s Job Characteristic Model

Hackman and Oldman found that the following job characteristics affect job performance and satisfaction: task identity, task significance, skill variety, autonomy, and feedback.

Task identity is when employees can see how their roles affect the entire organization so that they no longer feel like they operate in isolation. This knowledge can lead to greater job satisfaction.

Task significance is when employees can understand the larger impacts of their work on other people or society, which can also lead to greater job satisfaction. Skill variety is when employees can use many different skills in their work, which reinforces that the job is important.

Autonomy is when employees receive their manager’s trust and have leeway in decision-making.

Feedback is when employees receive commentary on their performance, enabling them to improve or encouraging them to stay the course.